Dear Friends of PAPA:

Given the grim economic outlook here at home and abroad, Washington is predominantly occupied with the stimulus package and economic recovery plans. But it is important that Congress and the Administration keep a close eye on foreign hotspots, such as the Taiwan Strait, that can challenge U.S. interests in the region. We need your help to remind Congress and the Administration to continue supporting the people of Taiwan and their hard-earned democracy.

We currently have two petition letter campaigns and need you to help us contact your Members of Congress and the Administration:

(1) House Concurrent Resolution 18, calling for the U.S. diplomatic recognition of Taiwan:

In light of the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act in April 2009, please join us to remind Congress that the time is now that the United States considers establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Such “Separate Recognition” by the U.S of China and Taiwan can be a model for those nations which seek to align both countries in a mutual co-existing relationship.

Congressman John Linder of Georgia introduced this important resolution on January 9, 2009. Click here to listen to his interview with the Voice of America.

Click here to urge your Members of Congress to co-sponsor this resolution.

(2) Letter to President Obama and Secretary Clinton:

Taiwan, one of the young democracies and staunchest U.S. allies, has been systematically shunned by Washington for the sake of a harmonious U.S.-China relationship. Taiwan’s democratic aspirations, such as holding referendums, and repeated membership appeals to the United Nations, did not receive much support in Washington or elsewhere.

The roadblock Taiwan is facing all comes down to an outdated “One China” Policy. The “One China” Policy originates from when the U.S. needed China to counter the threat of the former Soviet Union. The Soviet Union no longer exists today. Moreover, clinging to this outdated foreign policy is dangerous to American strategic interests in the region.

Click here to urge President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to rid policy.

The people of Taiwan need your help to ensure that Taiwan issues stay on the American government’s radar screen during this tumultuous time.

Thank you for taking time out of your hectic schedule to join our campaign and send messages supporting Taiwan.

Sincerely yours,
FAPA Headquarters
Washington, DC

Dear FAPA Alabama Central Chapter members:

Below is my congratulation letter to Senator Sessions for being re-elected as the US senator. I encourage you to write a letter to congratulate him, too.

Gary

- Letter to Senator Sessions –

On behalf of the FAPA Alabama Central Chapter and as an active Taiwanese American constituent of yours, I wish to extend my congratulations to you with your November 4 victory. I want to wish you well in the next session of Congress as you seek to serve all your constituents and your country.

As a citizen, I know that each and every election is a challenge and realize that keeping democratic ideals alive takes persistence and dedication. As a Taiwanese American I am proud of the fact that my homeland, Taiwan, has learned the art of democracy well and stands as a true democratic friend of the United States in this difficult moment in history.

However, during the past week, Taiwan has gone through some serious turmoil. Rallies have been held in several Taiwanese cities to protest the fact that President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration is not protecting Taiwan’s interests and sovereignty during negotiations with China, which are currently taking place in Taipei, at the occasion of the visit of the Chinese chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait.

In addition, Taiwan’s Kuomintang government, which has been in office for only six months, has arrested a number of opposition politicians, and has systematically stripped protesters of their human rights (particularly the right of freedom of speech). 7000 police are currently on the streets of Taipei and have rendered Taiwan close to a “police state.”

Democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law that were achieved with blood, sweat and tears by Taiwan’s previous generation are being trampled upon.

We hope that you will pay close attention to this matter as this situation continues to unfold.

For more information please contact the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) at 202-547-3686 or home@fapa.org

Sincerely,

Gary Cheng

November 4, 2008

二十位國際學者與關心台灣的國際友人於今日發表聯署聲明，就近日一連串台灣政府不符合司法程序，收押與起訴民進黨政府官員的舉動，表示高度關心與憂心。這份共同聲明也於今日寄送司法院院長賴英照與法務部部長王清峰。

這是國民黨政府一系列大動作收押民進黨政府官員以來，國際學者首度發表公開聲明，呼籲台灣司法維持中立，勿受政治影響，以確保台灣民主與人權。

November 4, 2008

JOINT STATEMENT

US , European and Australian scholars and writers express concern about prosecutions in Taiwan

The undersigned, scholars and writers from the US , Europe and Australia wish to express their deep concern about the recent series of detentions in Taiwan of present and former DPP government officials. To date there have been at least seven such cases (See list below).

以下聯署的國際學者對於近日台灣政府一連串拘留卸任與現任民進黨政府官員的行動，深表憂慮。直至今日，據我們瞭解共有七件類似案件。

It is obvious that there have been cases of corruption in Taiwan , but these have occurred in both political camps. The political neutrality of the judicial system is an essential element in a democracy. It is also essential that any accused are considered innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

很明顯的，貪污這個問題在台灣依然存在，但是這樣的案例在兩大政黨裡均曾發生。司法系統維持政治中立是民主的基本要素。堅持任何被指控者在裁定有罪前均是無罪的法律理念也是必要的。

We also believe that the procedures followed by the prosecutor’s offices are severely flawed: while one or two of the accused have been formally charged, the majority is being held incommunicado without being charged. This is a severe contravention of the writ of habeas corpus and a basic violation of due process, justice and the rule of law.

我們認為檢察官所採取的法律程序有著嚴重的缺失：雖然當一、兩位被指控者已被正式起訴時，大多數被指控者卻在未被正式起訴情況之下就遭到收押禁見。這嚴重違反了人身保護令以及正當法律程序、公義與法治。

In the meantime, the prosecutor’s offices evidently leak detrimental information to the press. This kind of “trial by press” is a violation of the basic standards of judicial procedures. It also gives the distinct impression that the Kuomintang authorities are using the judicial system to get even with members of the former DPP government.
In addition, the people who are being held incommunicado are of course unable to defend themselves against the misreporting and the leaks in the news media.

在此同時，檢察官辦公室很明顯地將相關不利消息透露給媒體。這種「透過媒體辦案」的方式違反司法程序的基本標準；也讓外界認為國民黨政府利用司法系統來報復已下台的民進黨政府。此外，被收押禁見的人，在與外界斷絕聯繫的情況下，無法澄清外界不實報導與媒體洩密。

We do firmly believe that any alleged wrongdoings must be dealt with in a fair and open manner in an impartial court. Justice through the rule of law is essential to Taiwan’s efforts to consolidate democracy and protect fundamental human rights.

我們深信任何宣稱的犯罪行為應該以公正與公開的方式，在中立的法庭裡審判。透過法治落實司法，才能強化台灣民主與保障基本人權。

We do not want to see Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy jeopardized in this manner. Taiwan can justifiably be proud of its transition to democracy in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It would be sad for Taiwan and detrimental to its international image if the progress which was made during the past 20 years would be erased. Taiwan needs to move forward, not backwards to the unfair and unjust procedures as practiced during the dark days of Martial Law (1947-87).

我們不願見到台灣辛苦得來的民主陷入如此困境。台灣因為在八零年代後期與九零年早期成功\轉型為民主國家，而引以為傲。如果過去二十年來的民主進展從此抺煞，這不僅將令人難過，台灣的國際形象也將受到嚴害傷害。台灣必須向前邁進，而不應是開倒車回到過去戒嚴黑暗時代的不公與不義。

Signed:

簽署人：

Nat Bellocchi, former Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan 　

Julian Baum, former Taiwan Bureau Chief, Far Eastern Economic Review

Coen Blaauw, Formosan Association for Public Affairs, Washington DC

David Prager Branner, Director at Large ( East Asia ), American Oriental Society

Gordon G. Chang, author, “The Coming Collapse of China.”

June Teufel Dreyer, Professor of Political Science, University of Miami, Florida

Edward Friedman, Professor of Political Science and East Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin , Madison

Bruce Jacobs, Professor of Asian Languages and Studies, Monash University, Melbourne , Australia

Richard C. Kagan, Professor Emeritus of History, Hamline University, St. Paul Minnesota

Jerome F. Keating, Associate Professor, National Taipei University (Ret.). Author, “Island in the Stream, a quick case study of Taiwan’s complex history” and other works on Taiwan

Daniel Lynch, Associate Professor, School of International Relations, University of Southern California

Victor H. Mair, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Pennsylvania

Donald Rodgers, Associate Professor of Political Science, Austin College, Texas

Terence Russell, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Manitoba

Scott Simon, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Ottawa

John J. Tkacik Jr., Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation, Washington DC

Gerrit van der Wees, Editor Taiwan Communiqué, Washington DC

Vincent Wei-cheng Wang, Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond, Virginia

Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania

Stephen Yates, President of DC Asia Advisory and former Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs

—————— ————- ————- ————-

Specific cases of concern:

• The arrest and detention on October 15th of former Interior minister Yu Cheng-hsien;

• The arrest and detention on October 27th of former Hsinchu Science Park Director and Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Dr. James Lee;

• The arrest and detention on October 29th of DPP Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen;

• The indictment on October 30th of DPP Tainan City Councilor Wang Ting-yu;

• The arrest and detention on October 31st of former National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general and Deputy Prime Minister Chiou I-jen;

• The questioning of former Foreign Minister Dr. Mark Chen on November 3rd and insinuations in the press that he might be charged and arrested.

• The arrest and detention on November 4th of DPP Yunlin County Magistrate Ms. Su Chih-fen.

近來FAPA陸續接獲一些台美人舉證，他們在申請美國護照，綠卡，或是公民證時，出生地一欄被美國移民及護照官員擅自更改為China或是People’s Republic of China。FAPA已經在第一時間內與美國國務院和國土安全部門聯繫。

FAPA早在1994年即與美國國會合作，促成美國政府修改法律，允許台灣赴美移民填寫台灣為出生地（1994年以前，台灣來的移民被迫只能填寫China為出生地）。因此，根據美國法律相關條文，美國官員不得將台美人文件的出生由Taiwan更改為China。這項條文規定正式登錄在國務院網站 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/94675.pdf

如果您遇到過這樣的情形，或是您週遭的親朋好友遇到這樣的情形，請您立即與FAPA華府總部聯絡。FAPA將匯整收集所有類似案件，一併呈交給美國國務院與國土安全部。

FAPA建議您採取下列措施：

美國護照出生地更正為台灣的申請手續：

如果您是在台灣出生，但是您的美國護照裡的出生地一欄被美國護照官員擅自改為「China」或「People’s Republic of China」，請您：

1. 隨即將您的護照影印本傳真至FAPA辦公室202-543-7891或是email至 HOME@FAPA.ORG 。請記得附上您的聯絡方式。

2. 在同時，請您上網至: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/94675.pdf ，將此文件列印下來（您也可撥電話到202-547-3686，FAPA可以將此文件傳真給您）。

3. 由於此份文件是美國國務院有關包括台灣等各國出生地填寫的規定，第九頁是特別有關台灣的規定，請您帶著這份文件到您當地的護照辦公室，要求改正。

您可以先向護照承辦人員表示，你的護照有錯誤需要修改，因為你原本出生地填寫台灣，但是護照拿回來後，被改為China，舉例如下。

“Hi, my name is XXX. There is a mistake in my passport. I put down “Taiwan” in the place of birth in my application. But when I got my passport back, the place of birth was changed into China. Can you make the correction?”

過去的例子證明通常只要跟護照中心表示他們弄錯了，大部份護照中心都會馬上更正。但是如果護照中心不馬上同意更正，您可以表示您有這份美國國務院的明文規定，申請人有權利填寫台灣，護照官員無權擅自更正。請參考下列說帖：

“I have here with me State Department Guidelines indicating that applicants have the right to put down “Taiwan” as place of birth. Please see Page 9 and 10.”

4. FAPA同時建議您記下那位處理官員的名字。

這項規定也適用於出生證明(birth certificate)，死亡證明(death certificate)等一般美國官方文件證書。

美國公民證書(naturalization certificate)，綠卡（green card)出生地更正為台灣相關手續:

如果您是在台灣出生，但是您在申請美國綠卡，公民等證書出生地一欄被美國移民官員擅自改為「China」或「People’s Republic of China」，請您：

隨即將您的申請資料影本或是任何相關移民局往來文件傳真至FAPA辦公室202-543-7891或是email至 HOME@FAPA.ORG 。請記得附上您的聯絡方式。

如果移民面試官將您出生地改為中國，請記得記下面試官的名字或是面貌特徵。

（如有進一步問題，FAPA總部電話202-547-3686 電子郵件信箱 HOME@FAPA.ORG)

有鑑於中國政府持續對台灣國內進行滲透統戰，在國外侮辱台灣國格、壓抑我國際生存空間的不友善態度，請各位有良知、有骨氣的同鄉朋友們，繼續支持響應由北美洲各台灣人社團組織於2005年所聯合推行的—「拒往中國旅遊，拒買中國產品」運動，並將此運動內容向國內外友人推廣。細節如下：

「拒往中國旅遊，拒買中國產品」運動

北美洲台灣人社團共同聲明
2005年4月22日

有鑑於中華人民共和國無理霸道的通過反民主反自由的「反分裂法」，企圖以武力侵佔台灣, 改變台灣自由、民主、獨立的現狀, 北美台灣客家公共事務協會除了響應「326和平民主護台灣」的訴求外，呼籲所有台美人社團以實際行動繼續表達我們對中國的嚴重抗議, 發起「拒絕前往中國旅遊，並拒買中國產品」的運動。我們認同響應, 鄭重呼籲所有國內的台灣同胞和海外的台灣鄉親們，拒絕到蠻橫獨裁的中國旅遊，並且拒絕購買任何中國產品。在此台灣民主、自由、與生存受到威脅之際，所有台灣人要同心協力，用行動 — 不去中國旅遊並抵制中國貨物— 來表達我們對台灣母國的愛與支持。用行動—不去中國旅遊並抵制中國貨物—來表示我們對中華人民共和國蠻橫霸道的嚴重抗議。

合辦社團:

加拿大台灣衛生聯盟會長黃子卿
台灣國際關係中心主任蔡武雄
王康陸博士紀念基金會會長王康厚
全美台灣人權協會會長蔡靜煌
台灣人公共事務會會長吳明基
加拿大台灣人公共事務會會長陳星旭
北美洲台灣人教授協會會長王萃堂
北美洲台灣婦女會會長楊美麗
陳文成教授紀念基金會會長高龍榮
北美台灣客家公共事務協會會長魏武雄
台灣協志社會長張漢忠
全美台灣同鄉會會長程韻如
北美台灣人生物科學協會會長邱英明
台灣學生社發言人葉景安
全美台灣客家會會長吳月美
世界台灣人大會總協調郭重國
台灣獨立建國聯盟加拿大本部主席張理邦
台灣獨立建國聯盟美國本部主席楊英育